Roller bearing



April 24, 192s. 1,657,348

. J. W. FOLEY ROLLER BEARING Filed FebT 9 l 4 Sheets-Sheet l (LQ "x `zz 1 y 11111111111111111111gj II/Il/Illlllllll 1' 1 JLIIIHHHIIK/ 1 n? 11111', 1

'7 1 l l 1 i ,11llllllll April 24, 1928.

1,667,348 J. w. FOLEY RoLLER BEARING Filed Feb. 9, 1927 4 sheets-Sheet s Apri1'24, 1921s.v 1,661,348

' iJ. W. FOLEY ROLLER BEARING Filed Feb. 9. 192'7 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES,v

j j y 1,667,348- iSPATEN To oFF@ LCE-1 `JOHN W. FOLEY, or ysarcasmILLINOIS.

ROLLER nnnnrno. A

Application fried February ej, i925@ serial ineficaces.

This invention relates to A.improvements in roller bearings, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved bearing of this `character having means forreducing toa minimum both radial-and thrustr friction at all times Whether the shaft which is jourmled therein is operating in a horizontal or vertical position and Ain which bear# ing the cage heretofore commonly used for holding the balls or cylinders in a tixedrelative Aposition is dispensed iwith, therebyr al lowing the balls or cylinders to be free freni each other and'capable of following'orrolling in anydesired orbit.

A*furthervobject isto provide an improved bearing of this character. so constructedand arranged thatl access may be readily had to the interior thereof.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as Will appear, the invention consists in the features'of novelty in substantially kthe construction, combination and arrangement ofthe several parts hereinafter more fullyA described and claimed and shown inthe accompanying drawings illustrating ythis invention, and in which Y. i

Figure 1 isa longitudinal sectionalview of a bearing of this character constructed in accordance With the principles of this in' vention. n i Y.

Figure 2 is a sectional vieiv taken on line 2--2a Figure 1.V i y y j Figure 3 is a view similartoVFigure 1of another formpofvthe "invention,

VFigure/f is a sectional view taken lonline f D i 4 4, Figure 3. Y y j i Y i `Referring more particularly to the drawings and to the formof the invention shoivn 'v in Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 10 designates generally a journal box or housing in Which the bearing isl arranged. This box or housingis provided with removable end plates'- ll secured in position in any suitable `man-` ner such as by means of fastening bolts 12,

The box or housing thus formed may be of any desired size anddiameter according to the number of rollers that itis desiredto be employed,-

Arranged Withinthe housing is afsleeve-or collar 12 that is adapted to be removably secured to a shaft-14 'in any suitable manner such as by means of a keyor feather 15.

The collar 'or sleeve 13 is of a diameter somewhat larger than the diameter of the shaft to Iwhich :it secured and' also consideralily less in diameter` than the interior diameterof the boX in'Which it isarranged. Thesleeve also isvofa lengt-hconsiderably lessthan the length of the journal box `for ya purpose yto beset forth.' f i Encompassing the )sleeve or collar y13 are a plurality'of rollers 16, 4any number of which may be used and` these rollersfare a depth approximately'equalto` one-half of thedfiameteryof. the balls v18.y These recesses. y

or grooves 419 form channels in `which the balls 18 are adapted to travel andthe balls are held yagainst j displacement ywith respect to the grooves orchannelsy means of the Vends of the rollers16. In I thev heads 17 are such The diameters of that the heads will substantiallylfill the space between the periphery of the shaft Irland theCOnCentrie Wall of the journal box 11a-nd the body oftlie'rollerflG such that a space` Q'Ofwilll be formed betweenr the inner faces of the "heads 17wof`therollers 16 andthe proximate adjacent end faces of the sleeve or j fWithin this space thus formed a-k series of balls-21 are .arranged and these balls` are of a diameter tosubstantially fill the respective spaces and to Contact with the shaft. 14 as Well as the respective end face of the sleeve the head17 of the rollerv16. l

yThebody port-ion of the roller1 16 contacts with theperiphery of the sleeve.'A

or collar 13` and the adjacent inner face of It lWilt i therefore bex seenv that `Wheirthe n we sha ft 14 rotated the .sleeve or collar i3 will also berotated and the balls 21 Willreduce the friction between theshaft 14@ and the roller 1G While atthe same time the balls 18 lwill reduce the' friction of the end thrust ofthev rollers and theser friction reducing means will bewrenderedr active atall times Whethei'the yshaftmis rotating about" a' hori'" Zontal or an upright axis.

TherollersI 16j and heads 17 are separated f rom'each other so that the peripheries of the heads 17 will be held out of conta-ct by means of intermediate rollers 22 Which are also ol a cylindrical configuration with the extremities 23 thereof rounded.

These inte mediate rollers 22 may be of any desired diameter and are of a. length substantially equal to the length of the space between the inner .'t'aces of the heads or ends 17 ot' the respective rollers 16 so that the rounded extremities of the rollers 22 Will Contactv with 'the inner faces of the heads 17.

rllhe point ot' junction between the body ot theroller "16 andthe heads 17 is preferably rounded as" at 24 Vso as to -form a runway i'or the balls 21 and also a bearing for the rounded ends of the intermediate rollers ot" the end plates 11 are provided rwithrecesses V25 into vwhich suitable packing 2G'1naylb'e' arranged and a packing nut 2T ,is provided?whichis sleeved upon the shaft 14 and is"provided4 with aportion 28 adaptedito enter the recess 25 to compress the packingj26 about theshaft 1st. A "'VThe nut 27 is provided with internal scren'7 threads 29 adapted to engage externa'l 'screw'threads 30 on the Wall of the rece'ss'f2f5.

VvVith this construction it will be manifestthat'any degree of pressure maybe given to'thepacking 26, andwvhen desired the entiref'e'nd' plate '11 with the ,packing nut thereon maybe removed so that access may be readily hadto the interior of the bearing. v.Inthe `for1n 0f the`invention shown in Figures and il, the rollers 31, corresponding to the rollers 16 in the form of the invention'shown in Figure 1, are of substantiall'ylthe' same diameter throughout their lengthand are supported by rthe sleeve 131 Th'eends `ot the rollers 31 overhang the eX- tremities ot the sleeve or collar 13 as at 32 to'iiorni spaces 33 in Which spaces balls 34 operate. vThese `balls 34 contact with the adja'c'ci'it ends 'ot thesleeve or collar 13 and also have contact with a Wear or bearing plate '35. which is preferably recessed in the innientac'el'ot each ot the krespective end members "1l, as at 3G.

The rollers 31 are of a length considerably' less than the length ot the journal box and arranged between'the respective ends ot the rollers and the'a'djaceut face or the respective endY plates 11 are balls 37 which are seated in annular recesses or `grooves 38 and which abut the `adjacent ends of the rollers 31.

The rollers 3l are held spaced from each other vor out ot rolling' contact bv means otI intermediate rollers 39 preferably in the o'iinot' cylinders which are ot a length greater than the'lenn'th ot the rollers 31 and the extremities 40- of these rollers 39 are rounded and are adapted to contact with the inner 'laces of the end members 11.

The rollers are preferably of a. length just a little less than the length ot Athe journal box 1() so that the ends ot the rollers et() may be held out el contact with the itaces ot the end members 11.

lVith this improved invention it will be manifest that therel will be provided continuous rolling' contacting' surface equal at all points ol the bearing, thereby reducing; thetriction' tol a minimum and the rollers and ball bearings are so arrangednthat the load will be equallydistributed throughout the bearing. j

It Willalso be manifest that with this improved construction thc. rollers'and balls will be vmaintained inv position without Vthe use. ot the cage commonly used in bearings of this character, thereby permitting the balls andthe cylinders toroll or follow any desired circuit or `orbit and will roll freely about the shalt and the internal surface ot the Walls ol the journal box.

yThe hearing will operate etliciently in any position, that is Whether the shaft which is journaled in the bearing is rotated on ak horizontal, vertical or inclined axis, and furthern'iore the amount of lubrication necessarylor a bearing' of this character Will be reduced to a minimum.

lllhile the preferred forms ot the invention have been shown and described.I it is to be understood that farions changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement o't the several parts, Within the scope otthe claims7 Without rdepartingr tromthe spirit of this invention.

lhat is claimed as new is 1. A roller 'bearing embodying' a casing'` a shaft 'extending theretln'ough, a sleeve carried by the shaft, said sleeve beingl ot a diameter considerably less than the diameter oi the casing` and ot a length to terminate short o the end Walls ot the casinfn'i'olleis between the sleeve-and the casing' and having a rolling contact vwith both, ball bearings betiveen'the casing end Walls and the adjacent ends ot' the respective rollers. and elongated spacin rollers between adjacent first recited rollers. n Y i 2. A roller bearing' embodying' a casing, a shaft extending* therethrough," 'asleeve carried by the sha'lt, said sleevebeing" ot a diameter considerably lessthan thcdiameter'oi" the casing and ot a length to terminate short of the end ivalls 'otthe casing, rollers between the Sleeve and the casiug'iaiid havingr a 'rolling contactn'itl'i both, ball. bearings between the casing' end'walls and the va dn jacent ends of the respective rollers, `grooves in the casing Walls'in which the said balls arev freely rotatable in all directions and indeptuident oiE each other.y and elongated spaein;T rollersbetn'een adjacent first recited rollers. i U Y 3. 'A roller bearing embodying a casina,

itin

a shaft extending theretln'ough, a sleeve car ried by the shaft, said sleeve being of aV i in 0'. f

i. A roller bearing embodying a casing, a shaft bearing sleeve within the casing and of a diameter considerably less than the diameter ofthe casing and terminating short of the end walls of the casing, independent n ent elongated spacing rollers between adja-k elongated rollers disposed between the periphery ofthe sleeve and the casing and having rolling contact with both, elongated spacing rollers arranged between adjacent rollers for maintaining them out of Contact` with each other, said spacing rollers being independent of each other andhaving rolling contact with the adjacentV first recited rollers and the casing, ball bearings disposed between the end walls of the casing and the adjacent ends of the first recited rollers, and ball bearings engaging` and operating against the ends of the said sleeve.

5. A roller bearing embodying a casing, a shaft jonrnaledrin the casing, circinnferential shoulders on the shaft ydisposed adj acent but spaced fromthe end walls ofrthe i casing, the periplieries of thesaid shoulders being spaced from the encompassing wall of the casing, independent elongated rollers disposed between the shaft andv casing and having rolling contact with both, independcent rollers for maintaining the latter out of direct rolling contact, said spacing rollers having rolling contact with the casing and with the said adjacent rollers, the ends of the irstsaid rollers co-operating with said shaft and said shoulders to form raceways, independent balls in said raceways, kand independent balls between the extremities of the firstsaid rollers and the respective end walls of the casing and having rolling contact with both.

(i. A roller bearing enibmlying a casing,

a shaft journaled inthe casing, eircuinferen tial shoulders on the shaft disposed adjacent but spaced from the end walls of the casing, the peripheries of the said shoulders being spaced from the encompassing wall of the casing, independent elongated Vrollers disposed between the shaft and casing and having rolling contact with both,r independent elongated spacing rollers between adjathe shaft raceways,

cent `rollers for maintaining thela-tter yout of direct rolling contact, said spacing rollers having rolling contact with thecasing and with thesaid adjacentrollers, the vends 'of the first said rollers co-operating with said vshaft and `,said shoulders to form racevways,r

independentr balls-in saidn'acewaya independent balls between the extremities ofthe first said rollers andthe respectiveend walls rof thecasing andhaving rolling contact with both, circumferential grooves in the kfaces of the said end walls and in which grooves'the last said balls freely operate, and means removablylsecuring the said end Walls in position. t f, :s

i 7. A roller bearing` embodying a casing, a shaft /journaled therein, circumferential shoulders on the shaft adjacent but spaced from the end' walls of the casing, independent elongated rollers between the shaft and casing and encompassing the shaft and hav ing rolling Contact with the shaft and cas ing, independent elongated spacing rollers g between the first said rollers for maintainingv them out of direct rolling contactand having rollingfcontact with the first said rollersand the casing, independent` ballA ,bearingsy be= tween the ends of the first said rollers and the respective adjacent face kof the casing end walls and having rolling contact ywith bot-h,v bearing surfaces spaced from the respective adjacentfaceslof said shouldersto form with 'and independent balls in the said raceways.

SQA roller; bearing embodying a casing,

ashaft jonrnaled therein, circumferential shoulders on the shaft adjacent but'spaced from the end walls of the casing, independent elongated yrollers between the shaft and casino; and encompassing 'the `shaft and having rolling contact with they shaft and: easing, independentelongated? spacing roll` :ers between the first said rollers for maintainingktheni out of-direct rolling contact and having rolling contact with the first said rollers and the easing, independent ball bearings between the ends of the first said rollers and the respective adjacent face of the casing end walls and having rolling contact with both, bearing surfaces spaced from the respective adjacent faces of said shoul-` f ders to forni with the shaft raceways, and independent balls in the said raceways, portions 'of the first recited rollers projecting over the said raceways and serving to main tain the last said balls in the said r'aceways.

9. A roller bearing einl'iodying a casing,

a shaft jonrnaled therein, eircninferential shoulders on the shaft adjacent but spaced from theI end walls of the casing` independent elongated rollers betweenthe shaft and casing and encompassing the shaft and having rolling contact with theshaftand casing, independent elongated spacing ro'llers between the first said rollers for maintaining theni out of direct-rolling contact and `l'niv-shoulderst the said roller and-enlarged por- 45 ing rolling contact with the lirst said rollers and the. casing, independent ball bearings be tween .the ends of the .first said rollers and the respective adjacent face ot' lthe casing end walls and having rolling contact with both, bearing surfaces spaced troni. the respective adjacent faces of said shoulders to torni `with the shaft raceways, and independent balls in the said raceways, the eX- treniities of the said spacing rollers being convexed to :torni rounded end bearings for said spacing rollers.

l0. A roller bearing embodying a casing, a rotatable eleinent in said casing shaped .to forni .shoulders parallel with but spaced from the end,ineinbers'olthe casing, inde- 'pendent elongated rollerbeariugs disposed between said rveleinent and the casing and having direct rollii'ig Contact with both, said ro'llers projecting over and beyond the said shoulders, the .ends ot the rollers being enlarged and spaced frein lthe respective said shoulders, the said roller and enlarged portions co-operating with the said element and the respective shoulders to torni substantially closed raceways7 independent balls in said raceway, independent balls between the end rwalls of the casing and the respective adjacent `ends of the said ro'llers and having rolling Contact with both, and, spacing rollers between the adjacent vlirst said rollers for maintaining them out of direct rolling contact.

l1. A roller bearing embodying a casing, a rotatable element in said casing shaped to forni shoulders parallel with but spaced fronrthe end inen'ibers of the casing, independent elongated roller bearings disposed between said e'lenient and the casing and having direct rolling contact with both, said rollers projecting over and beyond the said shoulders, the ends of the rollers being enlarged and spaced troni the respective said tions cti-operating with the said elenient and the respective shoulders to iorin substantially closed raceways, independent balls in said raceway, independentba'lls bctween'the end walls of the casing and the respective adjacent ends of the said rollersand having rolling Contact with both, and spacing' roll.- ei's between the adjacent lirst said rollers for maintaining theni out of direct rolling contact, the said spacing rollers having direct rolling contactwith the said adjacent V-rollers and the cas-ing. c

12; Avro'ller bearing embodying a casing, a rotatable element in said casing shaped to forni shoulders parallel with but spaced o0 frein the end members ofthe casing, `independent elongated roller bearings disposed between said element and the easing and having direct rolling con-tact with both.l said rollers projecting over and beyond the said c5 shoulders, the ends of the rollers being enlarged and spaced troni the respective said shoulders, the said roller and enlarged portion co-operating with the said elenient and the respective shoulders to forni *sul'istan-t 70 tially closed racewa'ys, independent balls in said raeeway.l independent balls between the end walls of the cas-ing and the respective adjacent ends of the said rollers and having rolling contactwith both, and spacing rollers between the ladjacent first said rol'lers 'for maintaining thein out ot' direct rolling Contact, the said spacing rollers having direct rolling Contact with the said adjacent roller spacinggo y and the casing'7 the extremities of the rollers being convexed and liavingrolling. Contact with the proximate faces of the adjacent enlarged portions ot the irst said rollers.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 35 

